Final answer:
The incidents submitted by APA members reveal ethical themes among psychologists related to proper research participant treatment, informed consent, harm avoidance, and confidentiality. Detailed ethical guidelines by organizations like the APA and ASA exist to prevent past unethical research practices and protect participants. The diversity within the psychology field and ethic-based professional organizations highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity in ethical considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The incidents submitted by APA members highlight several ethical themes among psychologists. While not all details of these incidents are provided, it is clear from historical context and the established ethical guidelines that there are ongoing concerns about the ethical conduct of psychologists. Ethical issues in psychology often revolve around the proper treatment of research participants, the use of deception, ensuring informed consent, avoiding harm, and maintaining confidentiality. Instances where these ethical guidelines are ignored can lead to harm, whether physical or psychological, to the individuals involved in psychological research.
The establishment of detailed ethical principles by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Sociological Association (ASA) reflects a response to past unethical research practices. The ASA's code of ethics, for example, was designed to safeguard human participants and promote humane and respectful treatment. Types of studies that could put human participants at risk include those involving deception without proper debriefing, studies that could trigger psychological distress or trauma, or research that is not fully voluntary or lacks informed consent.
Given the diversity of psychology as a field, as seen in the many divisions within the APA, there is a range of topics and areas of study that may pose ethical dilemmas. Furthermore, the existence of ethic-based professional organizations underlines the importance of considering cultural and community-specific dynamics when conducting research, to ensure that the research is culturally sensitive and ethical.